1 State of Arkansas
2 93rd General Assembly
3 Regular Session, 2021 HCR 1016
4
5 By: Representative Beck
6 By: Senator M. Johnson
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8 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
9 TO CELEBRATE THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF ARKANSAS SKY
10 OBSERVATORIES.
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13 Subtitle
14 TO CELEBRATE THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF
15 ARKANSAS SKY OBSERVATORIES.
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18 WHEREAS, in 1971, under the design and directorship of Arkansan P. Clay
19 Sherrod, the first facility of Arkansas Sky Observatories ("ASO") was
20 constructed in central Arkansas, with several more state-of-the-art
21 scientific research centers following; and
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23 WHEREAS, Mr. Sherrod and ASO developed one of the first Confirmation
24 Stations for the Harvard-Smithsonian IAU Minor Planet Center Director Dr.
25 Brian Marsden within only two (2) years, serving professional astronomers for
26 nearly fifty (50) years in the studies of new comets, asteroids, novae, and
27 supernovae in galaxies billions of light years distant; and
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29 WHEREAS, ASO has become a leader in comet and asteroid research
30 throughout the previous five (5) decades, with observations and orbital
31 determinations of over one hundred thousand (100,000) dangerous Near Earth
32 Objects that can possibly strike Earth, with this research conducted in
33 concert with Harvard, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Jet
34 Propulsion Laboratory, and Tokyo Observatory; and
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36 WHEREAS, Mr. Sherrod has personally achieved an extensive record of
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 HCR1016
1 public outreach in the United States through lectures, demonstrations, "star
2 parties", and educational facilitations in schools and for civic and church
3 groups, scouts, communities, and the general public, and has conducted more
4 than ten thousand (10,000) presentations in fifty (50) years; and
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6 WHEREAS, asteroid 117736 has been named "Sherrod" by the International
7 Astronomical Union for the dedication of outreach and research by Mr.
8 Sherrod; and
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10 WHEREAS, ASO and Mr. Sherrod have contributed extensively to the
11 sciences of astronomy, archeology, paleontology, geology, environmental
12 sciences, cellular biology, and evolutionary science, currently operating
13 several observatories, a cellular biological laboratory, a seismic activity
14 facility, and one (1) of the states most extensive collections of Arkansas
15 index fossils; and
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17 WHEREAS, Mr. Sherrod has been recognized internationally for his
18 research and discoveries in archeology of the Western Hemisphere's
19 prehistoric cultures, resulting in four (4) research books and numerous
20 publications; and
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22 WHEREAS, beginning in 1986, Mr. Sherrod developed a solar-powered
23 magnetohydrodynamic generator and subsequent alternative energy facilities
24 for classified and proprietary operation by the United States Government; and
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26 WHEREAS, Mr. Sherrod has published an impressive and exhaustive total
27 of thirty-seven (37) books, including books in the scientific realms, two (2)
28 novels, three (3) philosophical works, and even a cookbook; and
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30 WHEREAS, Arkansas Sky Observatories is solely operated privately
31 without any acceptance of public funding, and is one of the oldest privately
32 funded research centers in the United States; and
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34 WHEREAS, in April 2021, Arkansas Sky Observatories is celebrating an
35 impressive half-century of contributions to education and the sciences,
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 HCR1016
1 NOW THEREFORE,
2 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL
3 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN:
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5 THAT the House of Representatives congratulate Arkansas Sky
6 Observatories on its fiftieth anniversary.
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8 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT upon adoption, a copy of this resolution be
9 provided to Mr. P. Clay Sherrod by the Chief Clerk of the House of
10 Representatives.
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